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thedrifter
08-10-08, 06:29 AM
Brothers in arms

Pair returns home after joining different branches

By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
reporter@arkcity.net

Josh and Jason Demo joined different branches of the U.S. armed services for different reasons.

The two brothers have had their differences over the years, but they are closer now, after both have experienced military service, says younger brother Jason.

But when they were growing up in Arkansas City, they had different interests, Jason said.

"We didn't see eye to eye," he said. He did not elaborate.

Jason said that he and Josh, a sergeant in the Marines, have experienced a certain bonding since he returned from basic training.

"He was my mentor," Jason said. "He got me to join the Air Force."

The Demo brothers both returned to Ark City last week on furlough. They have enjoyed the time with family and friends, they said in an interview Wednesday.

The brothers had their differences growing up but they also shared many experiences. They went fishing and hunting together, for instance.

And they both were influenced by family members from previous generations who served in the military.

But their motives for military service are different. Jason joined the Air Force to travel and further his education. Josh joined the Marines on a dare.

"A friend of mine said 'You ain't going to go,'" Josh said. "We both joined in '04."

Josh graduated from Arkansas City High School in 2002, then went to work for Skyline Corporation before joining the Marines.

After four years in the Marines, Josh figures he'll stay for awhile, maybe 20 years. He likes the camaraderie.

His first deployment was to the Horn of Africa as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

"We were supporting a flying mission," he said. "Our troops were dropping off supplies going to Somalia and Ethiopia, most for humanitarian aid for civil war victims."

Josh worked as a mechanic doing maintenance on CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, he said.

Later, Josh was deployed to Kuwait near the Iraq border, he said.

"We flew cargo into and out of Iraq," he said. "I was working on an army base in aircraft maintenance."

He was close to the action but fortunately not in it.

"It was just all sand," Josh said. "We could hear mortars going off in the background."

Josh deploys again to Africa in January for a seven-month stint, he said.

Seeing family and friends again in Ark City has been nice, said Josh. He was preparing to leave by the end of this week.

Jason, 21, has another week before he has to leave for Cheyenne, Wyo., where he will work as a nuclear weapons technician for the Air Force.

He just graduated with honors from tech training at a base in Wichita Falls, Texas, he said. He received the Airman of the Month award in April.

"It's worked out better than I thought," Jason said.

He graduated from Cowley College in criminal justice in 2006. After graduation, he worked as a corrections officer for the Cowley County Sheriff, he said.

The Demo brothers come from a long line of military servicemen, on both sides of the family, they said.

Their paternal great-grandfather served in World War II and died in the Battle of the Bulge just six weeks before the fighting in Europe ended.

Their paternal grandfather was a Navy commander for the Judge Advocate General (JAG). Their great-uncle was another Navy commander who was wounded at Iwo Jima during World War II.

"He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery and so was his wife," Josh said of their great-uncle.

Their father, Brian Demo, was a petty officer in the Navy. He now works at GE Engine Services at Strother Field.

Their mother, Tammie Demo, has a brother who served with the 101st Airborne Army Rangers.

Why did Josh encourage Jason to go into the Air Force instead of the Marines?

"He has the smarts to do more things -- the brains to excel," he said.

Jason said he wants to pursue a career in law enforcement after his service in the Air Force.